DFA Conducts Training for Economic Officers, Honorary Consuls

OIER Assistant Secretary Gina A. Jamoralin with participants of the Economic Retooling Course. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Camille Barizo)

MANILA, 27 December 2022 – The Office of International Economic Relations (OIER) organized an onsite Economic Retooling Course for its economic officers and honorary consuls from 13 to 16 December 2022 in Manila and Clark, Pampanga. The training program consisted of a two-days lecture on economic intelligence, marketing, and promotion and a two-day site visit to government agencies and private companies. A total of 72 economic officers, 15 honorary consuls, and seven home office officials attended the program.

The four-day course provided participants with the opportunity to meet and obtain insights from top industry professionals and government officials. The delegates met heads of DFA’s partner agencies, including Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. of the Department of Science and Technology. They also visited the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) One-Town One Product (OTOP) Shop.

Speakers from the DTI Foreign Trade Services Corps (FTSC) and the International Trade Center (ITC) gave lectures on economic promotion, trade policy issues, and trade facilitation. Corporate executives from the food and manufacturing sectors shared insights on their experience expanding their operations overseas and how economic officers can assist the private sector in facilitating inward and outward trade and investments as well as startups equity crowdfunding. Two export-oriented companies were also invited to exhibit their products in the hallway of the training venue.

The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) co-hosted a welcome reception for the guests and participants of the retooling and promoted the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV), which retirees and investors can apply for in order to gain long-term residency and other incentives. 

Aside from the lectures, participants were able to connect with representatives of a number of IT-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) companies and associations during the networking lunch organized by OIER. 

In order to better appreciate the country’s investment locations, OIER, in cooperation with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) organized site visits to locators around Clark Freeport Zone. Delegates went to visit a manufacturing company, furniture shop, and an IT-BPM firm. They also toured the facilities in New Clark City, including the Aquatics Center, Athletics Stadium, and the National Government Administrative Center, where they were met by BCDA Chair Delfin N. Lorenzana and other officials of BCDA, CDC, and MTD Philippines. 

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo noted during his welcome message that “the attainment of economic security is an inseparable part of our mandate in the DFA, and therefore we are duty-bound to continue sharpening our skills and improving our toolkits, especially in these challenging times. Just as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized when he met our country’s newly-confirmed Ambassadors, our job at the DFA should not only be confined to traditional diplomacy. We must be at the forefront of economic recovery efforts and of driving the momentum of economic reforms forward.” 

With the retooling, OIER hoped that delegates would go back to their areas of jurisdiction with sharpened skills, fresh ideas, and invigorated passion for advancing the Philippines’ economic and commercial interests overseas. END

Philippine Honorary Consuls visit to the Department of Foreign Affairs. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Camille Barizo)

Town Hall Meeting with DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. (Photo by DFA-OIER Margaret Duremdes)

Site visit at La Forge Lighting and Furniture Inc. at Clark Freeport Zone. (Photo by DFA-OIER Margaret Duremdes)

BCDA Chairman MGen (Ret) Delfin N. Lorenzana urged economic officers and honorary consuls to promote Clark Freeport Zone and New Clark City to potential investors. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Camille Barizo)